190 MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASIIANTEE. 
minds — unjustly captured ! sold for £1000 ! Still we 
tried to feel hopeful and happy. The general's represen- 
tative was not satisfied, but the interpreters stood and 
cried, " as the king has decided, so let it be." 
The uproar that followed was awful; and we soon per- 
ceived that " to-morrow " was an indefinite future. A 
severe trial was already in store, for the very next day 
our treasured little Rose was seized with fever and con- 
vulsions, and for many hours struggled for life, so that we 
almost anticipated the dreadful alternative of having to 
leave her behind should we ever get free ourselves. The 
king however seemed to wish to hasten our journey, and 
to be rid of us and all our belongings, and we expected 
Sunday the 10th to be our last in Coomassie. 
We had before planned a kind of Christmas entertain- 
ment for our school boys, but in our excitement and our 
anxiety for Rosie, we could only arrange a few presents 
on two small tables covered with a white cloth, and when 
ready we rang a bell to call our guests. These poor little 
untamed and noisy fellows came in quite subdued, and 
listened attentively while I addressed them. They joined 
us in singing, after which I prayed, and they again sang the 
pieces they knew. 
I then told them of Jesus, the children's friend, 
who loved them and their country, and would make 
them holy if they would come to Him and ask Him. I 
explained that as we might not perhaps remain among them 
till Christmas, we were fulfiling our promise beforehand, 
and giving them our Christmas gifts now — to each, material 
for a dress, a handkerchief from Berne, and some biscuits 
and oranges. The joy Avas great ; they received these unac- 
customed riches with beaming eyes, sang again and left us. 
This was the happiest day I had spent in Coomas- 
sie, for truly God had permitted me to see great things 
from a very insignificant beginning. We had been sowing 
